EPA Painting and Refinishing

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has new requirements to reduce air pollution of metals such as chrome, lead, cadmium, manganese and nickel compounds, and also to reduce methylene chloride fumes, from paint stripping and spray painting operations, including autobody painting operations. These compounds pose health risks to anyone who breathes the air when these fumes are present. Many paints and materials used in painting and paint stripping operations contain these compounds. The new regulations require painting and paint stripping businesses to do several things to reduce emissions of these compounds.